With Leicester having won the title in the most climatic anti-climatic way possible, this weekend's EPL games might seem like we are already moving on to the ides of meh. Sure, it'll be cool to see what kind of reception the Foxes get at home, but really catching a 2-min highlight clip will probably tell you all you need to know. And yes, there is an implications-heavy game between Arsenal and City that could go a long way toward determining which club will underwhelm in next year's Champions League, but considering how both played their last games, it's tough to get into much of a frenzy over it. On the relegation side Newcastle have a must-win at Aston Villa, who could very well play spoiler as so many relegated sides have done in seasons past. Meanwhile Norwich face a big test by hosting United who are still hoping they can catch up to City.
With all the major leagues around Europe having decided on their champions, La Liga is our last chance to witness a title race. Atletico having lost both games against Barca this season means their only hope of a title is if the Catalans falter in the last two games. It's a little tough seeing Espanyol making that happen on Sunday, although the Perequitos did manage a goalless draw earlier this season. Atleti will want to avoid any hangover from their inspiring qualification to the CL final, but against relegated Levante they should be OK.
EPL Sat 07 May 2016 07:45 Norwich City - Manchester United 10:00 Aston Villa - Newcastle Utd 10:00 Bournemouth - West Bromwich 10:00 Crystal Palace - Stoke City 10:00 Sunderland AFC - Chelsea FC 10:00 West Ham - Swansea 12:30pm Leicester City - Everton FC
Sun 08 May 2016 08:30 Tottenham - Southampton 11:00 Liverpool FC - Watford FC 11:00 Manchester City - Arsenal FC
Liga Sun 08 May 2016 11:00 Celta Vigo - Malaga CF 11:00 Eibar - Betis 11:00 FC Barcelona - Real CD Espanyol 11:00 Getafe - Sporting Gijon 11:00 Las Palmas - Athletic Bilbao 11:00 Levante - Atletico Madrid 11:00 Real Madrid - Valencia 11:00 Real Sociedad - Rayo Vallecano 11:00 Sevilla - Granada CF 11:00 Villarreal - Dep. La Coruna
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
8. "Fair result. Neither team showint any defensive consistency " In response to Reply # 0
Good response to equalize within 2 minutes after Aguero's goal and agai responded after going down in the 2nd half w Alexis equalizing. Bony left unmarked in the box in the 88th and had the chance to win the match...the post to the rescue.
Settling for a top 4 spot and 4 more injuries this week (Mertesacker and Ox setbacks, Ozil injured during warm-up, Welbeck with a non-contact in the 25th minute)...sounds about right for current Arsenal football.
--------------------------------- <--The drought is over
"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS
"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left." -Kobe speaking to investigators
11. "it's about time we kick off the annual transfer news thread" In response to Reply # 0
I don't feel like doing it right now, so I'll just leave these tidbits here
- Bayern just put their big german ballz on the table, securing Renato Sanches (who everybody wanted, specifically MU) and Matt Hummels on the same day. - The Ousmane Dembele to Dortmund rumor is swelling (the player himself is down, apparently), but there are so many richer clubs interested that I'm not convinced it's a done deal just yet... - Part of why Ousmane may be so interested in Dortmund is that PEA is apparently on the move, to Spain. Real, I guess. - Ben Arfa is going to Barca, it seems. Not sure it's that great a move for him, unless Neymar is out (which I don't think is happening). If MSN stays put, he's not going to get nearly enough playing time. - Atletico, Liverpool and Citay are all interested in Thomas Lemar (Monaco). He's going to be a star, imo, so that'd be a smart move on their part.
19. "isn't Gameiro also being talked about as a potential signing?" In response to Reply # 18
he could fit in well as an impactful sub (he was great for Sevilla last season when he started much more infrequently), which is something FCB seem to want with their FFP restrictions. I'm not sure it would be a great move for him rather than staying at Sevilla, but I could see how tempting it would be to head to Camp Nou
------------------------------ For the record, my teams: MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets
23. "yes, but he can back-up suarez too, hopefully" In response to Reply # 19 Tue May-10-16 05:20 PM by thejerseytornado
fits better as a super-sub. but i'm ok with either/both. neymar/messi have more natural cover. munir isn't (or just isn't ready) to play in suarez's position.
20. "a, Barca is not a little ass club that can't afford to spend on multiple..." In response to Reply # 17 Tue May-10-16 04:04 PM by nighttripper
They're definitely getting somebody for their back line, most likely Marquinhos who's (righteously) mad as shit at Blanc and wants out of Paris. I feel this is inevitable, even though Nasser doesn't wanna hear it yet.
But that doesn't mean they weren't gonna go for offensive talent as well. They got cash.
b. you guys' "we don't need nobody upfront" routine is a bit disingenuous, considering the fact neither Neymar nor Messi did jack shit in the 2 biggest games of the season vs Atletico because they were cooked, and Lucho didn't trust nobody on that bench to sub for them. It's not like y'all lost that round because of defense.
c. Ben Arfa is clearly one of the most attractive deals on the market. Given the minutes, he'd help on a team like Barca.
21. "Oh def need more depth up front. But defense is even more urgent." In response to Reply # 20
And yeah Barca do in fact have a serious cash problem right now, esp they haven't sold naming rights for the new stadium. It's why they are playing with fire by failing to give Neymar a new deal yet. It's why they didn't buy Nolito in January even though Luis Enrique asked for him -- and, as you note, not doing so doomed the front line to exhaustion by the crucial part of the season since they've played so many games (many many more than the front lines for Real and Atletico, for example).
I wish they bought Marquinhos 2-3 yrs ago when that move was rumored before PSG swooped in for him. He'd be a great signing this summer IMO. Don't know who else is an option - maybe Aymeric Laporte? Sounds like he'll go to City though.
I don't watch many full games of Ben Arfa's, just the (obviously very impressive) highlights -- does he move the ball quickly enough to fit in well with Barca's system?
26. "i should have consolidated replies" In response to Reply # 21
Neymar renewal is likely next thing on the agenda for barca, but yeah, there's some money issues--no naming for the new camp nou yet, but also no shirt sponsor (there's a set of kits without sponsors getting made right now, supposedly. I MUST COP).
though a lot of the neymar bullshit seems to be his dad and trying to get money cuz neymars been #teambarca for a long time. his dad been #teammoney longer tho.
marquinhos might actually not cost more than he cost PSG considering how much he wants to leave. which would be dope. Laporte ain't happening, it seems.
real talk, a back-up LB, either a full throated endorsement of Bartra or pay significant money for a CB and a backup forward. now to see how barto and the board fuck the obvious up AGAIN.
----------- you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia
24. "i think barca's more concerned about a sub/replacement for suarez" In response to Reply # 20
messi/neymar both looked gassed, but there are a lot more potential options to cover for them--aleix vidal probably better as a winger (though Lucho's pissed at him), munir's better as a winger than in the middle, rafinha's probably able to hack it (though better in iniesta's role), and Denis Suarez is 99.99999% definitely returning to barca after his loan (Delofeu is far more murky).
there are options to cover the wings (plus iniesta's played there before). there's *nothing* behind suarez, except moving messi or neymar to the middle.
----------- you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia
32. "add Bayern to the Thomas Lemar suitors" In response to Reply # 11
>- Atletico, Liverpool and Citay are all interested in Thomas >Lemar (Monaco). He's going to be a star, imo, so that'd be a >smart move on their part. >
he should not go to Bayern, imo. Gonna be too crowded there.
30. "It would be so gutless for Utd to hire Mourinho." In response to Reply # 29
They've made it crystal clear that they don't like his crude, mercenary personality and his results-over-style brand of football. If they hire him it'll be a total admission of failure in their post-Ferguson planning, and a capitulation to a win-now mentality when they were supposedly trying to build something sustainable.
Even if they fire LVG they should hire someone younger.
39. "Yeah a Klopp/Pocch/Tuchel - type hire would be best of both worlds IMO" In response to Reply # 36
Quality coach who's young enough to build for the future and to grow into a Man Utd managerial legend -- not just a legendary manager who's a mercenary and will always be more closely associated with Chelsea and Inter than with Utd.
44. "Someone explain why Roberto Martinez" In response to Reply # 0
still has a job after that disgrace of a match vs Sunderland?
____ Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain
47. "So it happened today...finally" In response to Reply # 45
he should have been gone a while ago...
____ Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain
he'd be more of a legend if he managed to be productive in the tougher CL games...he didn't, so he's gonna leave with the same stain on his reputation he arrived with (not enough of an impact player in big games)
I'm The Gramercy Riffs... I was on ya'll fuckers. Caught a couple bad breaks at very inopportune times. I'm disappointed that we've got a 3 month break.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
76. "i'm still scarred by the slip, and the shootout against city was heartbr..." In response to Reply # 0
i cheered for dortmund against bayern in the champion's league final, and as an eyewitness to gary anderson shanking a field goal in the NFC title game after being perfect during the regular season, i am too familiar with the best laid plans gang oft agley.
but goddamnit. the comeback against against dortmund this year was fantastic, villareal was clinically taken apart, and liverpool need some damn silverware and their ticket punched for the champion's league. it is their...density (c) george mcfly
------ "I can't promise I'll try. But I'll try to try."
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